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Prevalence and Correlates of Psychological Distress in Adolescent Students from India
T S Jaisoorya1, D Geetha1, K V Beena2
1Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India.
Objective:
There are limited data on the prevalence and correlates of psychological distress among adolescents in India. This study assessed psychological distress among adolescents who attended school in Kerala, India.
Methods:
A total of 7560 students from 73 schools, aged 12 to 19 years completed a self-administered questionnaire that included Kessler Psychological Distress Scale and other standardised instruments to assess various domains.
Results:
Mild psychological distress was reported by 10.5%, moderate distress by 5.4%, and severe distress by 4.9% of students. Older age, not living with both parents, and urban residence were significantly associated with psychological distress (p < 0.05). Students who experienced psychological distress had a higher risk of reporting academic failure, alcohol and tobacco use, suicidality, and sexual abuse. Increasing severity of psychological distress was associated with higher odds of these correlates.
Conclusions:
Psychological distress is common among adolescents and its correlates with negative outcomes suggest the need for early recognition and treatment.
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